...we gave a defensive display worthy of the division with only 1 (unlucky) goal conceded from open play
Team line up : Adams, Waite, Morris, Taylor, Valcsicsak, Ledbury, Bannon (Capt), Yearsley, Lewis, Gutierrez, Hoskins.Subs: White, Harbusch
After last week’s “welcome to the top veterans division” wake-up call, we started this game with a nominal 4-5-1 formation – with Zoltan Valcsicsak bringing his Hungarian guile to the right back slot, and Brian Lewis back in midfield after failing to be given a contract with a Cuban veterans team. Having been caught out by counter attacks last week, our prime objective was to be tighter at the back.
Within a few minutes, we were again reminded that the quality of offensive play will be considerably higher this season than last – and Waite, Morris, Neilo and Zoltan had to be on their toes from start. New Inn tried to move the ball quickly and frequently sought the through ball, with Mark Adams also needing to be quick to come out if necessary. Only once did they manage to get through one-on-one, but Mark was able to win that particular duel.
With Ledbury in the holding role, the idea was that the other midfielders could get forward to support Hoskins – and this also worked to some extent, even if no clear chances were created. In fact our best chances in the first half came from free kicks when Hoskins was fouled close to the box. Alas, efforts by Roger & Neilo hit the wall. It was a failing that we learned to regret later in the day.
Anyway, we came off at half time knowing that we were playing better than last week – even if it was not the fast flowing passing game that the crowds so enjoyed last season. The only slight surprise in the first half were the yellow cards given to Yearsley and Ledbury for very innocuous challenges in the centre of the pitch.
With Tony White coming on seamlessly at left back to replace the departing Neil Taylor, the second half started much as the first finished off. Apart from a Brian Lewis yellow card (for a slide tackle in midfield where he didn’t even touch the opponent), things remained relatively uneventful, until an excellent surging run from Captain Deano from the left wing into the box was brought to an unceremonious end when he was clattered from 2 sides by New Inn defenders. Penalty. Ian Hoskins grabbed the ball, and was able to keep up his goal-a-game record by dinking it over the keeper (who was on the 6-yeard line by the time he shot!). 1-0.
Our second best chance of the half was another free kick, but Mad Mike’s effort went just over the bar. As New Inn stepped up the pressure, Harbusch came on for a tiring Gutierrez, and we concentrated on defending the advantage in the hopes of catching them on the break. With an increasingly crowded midfield & a highly disciplined back four, we were able to keep them away from our box most of the time – although New Inn’s speed of ball movement and choice of pass was considerably better than Elan Evere last week.
Alas, with 15 minutes to go, a lucky deflection saw their right midfielder break into the box and, despite Ledbury and Adams closing the angles, he managed to find a spot in the back of the net. 1-1. Frustration all around, and a clear lift for the visitors.
Just a few minutes later, as we tried to push forward, a ball over the top found Zoltan racing back with his man. A slight nudge on the guy’s arm saw him falling dramatically to the floor – and the ref giving Roger his first yellow card for 3 years! To make matters worse, New Inn clearly have a few dead ball specialists, and the resulting free kick went straight as an arrow into the top corner. 1-2. No chance for Mark Adams, although the newly-wedded Tommy Sejersen on the sideline subsequently suggested he would have got it!
A few minutes later, another light tackle on the edge of our box saw another free kick from virtually the same place. This time it was a left foot curler round the wall, which Mark did get a hand to, but couldn’t stop. 1-3. Two minutes before the end, they got another free kick in a similar place, but this time the ball went over – but Mark had it covered.
And so it was that Vets 1 lost the second game of the new campaign. However, we lost by less than last week and to a better team. Above all, after last week’s problems, we gave a defensive display worthy of the division with only 1 (unlucky) goal conceded from open play. Roll on Brussels LTC next week.
Man of the Match voting saw workhorse Ledbury do well, but he was pipped by Ian “free kick, ref” Hoskins and Zoltan “I’m not really a defender” Valcsicsak – with the skipper backing the Budapest bruiser at right back to receive the award of a genuine cigar from Havana.
End
